Allentown Community Development Director Ross Marcus urged members of the Allentown Human Relations Commission to attend the city's 7th Street revitalization meeting with neighborhood residents Thursday at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The meeting, set for 7 p.m. at 417-429 N. 7th St., is being held to involve residents in neighborhood cleanup programs and other improvements the city is planning to make along the 7th Street gateway corridor.

"It's time to stop planning and start doing," said Marcus. "That's really the emphasis of next Thursday's meeting."

The city has committed $1.2 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to make street and sidewalk improvements, demolish dilapidated buildings, establish a youth recreation center and carry out other initiatives.

"To use the expression, we really did put our money where our mouth is," said Marcus.

Marcus said he'd like to see commission members involved in the process. At Thursday's meetings, residents will be invited to participate in small breakout groups to help set details for the program's so-called Operation Facelift and a neighborhood cleanup day planned for June 7.

Marcus said he hopes one result of such face-to-face meetings with residents is the establishment of a strong neighborhood group along 7th Street.

Commission Chairman Geoffrey Lee reported that the county charter study commission looks favorably upon the idea of establishing a countywide human relations commission.

Although the idea is not among the charter changes the study commission is recommending, Lee said the view adds weight to the Allentown commission's own review of the matter. Two months ago, the Allentown Human Relations Commission formed a committee to look at the idea.

"We feel our hands are tied," said Lee, explaining that the Allentown commission cannot take on discrimination cases beyond the city's borders. Those cases must be referred to the state Human Relations Commission.